Countdowns are always fun, so let's take a look at the 10 best moments from a different but exciting winter.

Manildra versus Canowindra was advertised as a potential game-of-the-year candidate in the 2021 Woodbridge Cup title race, and boy did it deliver.

The undefeated Tigers enjoyed a 32-16 advantage with less than 10 minutes remaining at Jack Huxley Oval, but the Red V refused to give up, finishing the game with 16 unanswered points to salvage a 32-all draw.

With a blowout on the cards during a Suncorp Super Netball pre-season match in March, it was the substitution of Annie Miller with ten minutes left which drew the biggest cheer of the night from the packed PCYC crowd.

The Orange product had watched from the bench for most of the game as her Giants Netball teammates grew an insurmountable lead against the Adelaide Thunderbirds in their Suncorp Super Netball pre-season match. But as she ran onto the court to take her spot at wing attack, the crowd erupted.

Watching any player score three tries is fun, but on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Wade Park, Hawks' front-rower Saul Houma put together one of the best solo performances of the year on the way to a 52-6 Hawks triumph.

Sure, Mudgee came into that match with a stack of injuries, but that doesn't take much away from the hat-trick effort from the front-rower.

Houma opened the hosts' account with a barnstorming effort in the 8th minute, carrying a convoy of Mudgee defenders over the try line.

There are plenty of hotly-contested rivalries, but you could make the case that Waratahs FC and Barnstoneworth United FC took part in the most heated cross-town battles this season.

The WPL contenders opened the season with a 1-1 draw on a Friday night as the match looked more like a WWE main event than a football game.

The mid-season derby delivered as well, as the sky blues claimed bragging rights with a stunning 3-2 victory and Jack Brabham.

Orange Emus and Orange City showed exactly why there's a dramatic spike in playing numbers throughout the women's rugby scene in 2021.

This Westfund Ferguson Cup derby was fast, physical and thrilling.

And even though Orange Emus held on for a 26-22 victory at Pride Park, you'd be a harsh critic to label either side a loser after such a competitive match.

After a six-year hiatus, Sam Ah-See returned to boxing with an emphatic knockout of Czar Amonsot at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre.

He announced his confidence in the lead-up to the Tim Tszyu versus Stevie Spark fight night, and that self-belief manifested in the most spectacular way as two minutes of dominance was followed by a decisive right uppercut.

Once the Indigenous star smelled blood in the water, he swarmed on the 35-year-old and just when it looked like he would escape the opening stanza, the referee stepped in and called it off.

Molong entered the 2021 Woodbridge Cup campaign with heavy hearts after tragically losing Dave Barrow prior to the season.

Donning a special old boys day strip on a Sunday afternoon, the Bulls welcomed the Golden Eagles to town as they prepared to play for Dave.

Nothing about the opening 40 minutes went to scrip for the Bulls as they fell into a 20-4 hole before half-time.

But the Bulls didn't stop digging and after looking down and out at oranges, were able to come from the clouds and knock off the visitors 22-20 after a Jye Barrow match winner.

This is as special at it gets.

Many people in Orange would know of Mason Pollack's tragic passing, but perhaps not as many would be aware of what the footy gods gave us in Group 10's second round.

With Orange Hawks enjoying a 22-12, Marlin Pollack scored his first try in the top grade, sealing the victory for his side in front of a Wade Park crowd.

And while he'd give this moment away to have his brother back, it was surely one of the best moments of his young career.

The clutch gene... some players have it, some don't.

In the case of Orange CYMS' winger Addison Williams, he's got every ounce of crunch-time composure imaginable.

The 18-year-old sharpshooter sent the green and golds to the top of the Group 10 premier league table as he drilled a 50-metre penalty goal after the siren, giving his troops a breath-taking 34-32 victory over the defending premiers Panthers at Wade Park.

We've raved on about how crazy this was, but it really was incredible.

After looking down and out throughout the middle of the Premier League Hockey season, Pete Shea's CYMS scraped into fourth position before putting together an unthinkable title run.

With Lithgow Panthers, Orange United and Bathurst St Pat's all ahead of them, no one would have picked little old CYMS to make any noise in the finals.

Not only did they qualify for a grand-final at Lithgow's home ground, they wiped the floor with the heavyweights, winning 4-1.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: